18.04.2024 07:18
The Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act 2024, which the House of Representatives is planning to consider on Saturday, April 20, obliges the Departments of State and Defense to develop a strategy to help the country, containing specific and achievable goals and guaranteeing its ability to defend itself against future aggressions.U.S. aid bill for Ukraine foresees development of long-term aid U.S. aid bill for Ukraine foresees development of long-term aid
According to Ukrinform, the House Appropriations Committee presented a bill “making emergency supplemental appropriations to respond to the situation in Ukraine and for related expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes.”
According to the document, $60.84 billion will be allocated for these needs, including $23.2 billion that will be used for replenishment of U.S. weapons, stocks, and facilities.
Up to $13.4 billion will be used for the replacement, through new procurement or repair of existing unserviceable equipment, of defense articles from the stocks of the Department of Defense, and for reimbursement for defense services of the Department of Defense and military education and training provided to the government of Ukraine.
The document also provides for the transfer of long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine.
“As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the President shall transfer long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems to the Government of Ukraine to assist the Government of Ukraine in defending itself and achieving victory against the Russian Federation,” the bill reads.
At the same time, the U.S. president can suspend the transfer of ATACMS missiles if it is detrimental to the national security interests of the United States.
It is stated in various sections of the document that $7.9 billion and $1.6 billion is provided in the form of a loan (“economic support fund”). No later than 60 days after the entry into force of the act, the president shall conclude an agreement with the government of Ukraine on the return of this aid to the United States. However, this loan can be written off with the approval of Congress.
Within 45 days after the adoption of the law, the State Department and the Pentagon must provide the relevant congressional committees with “a strategy regarding United States support for Ukraine against aggression by the Russian Federation.” The strategy should establish specific and achievable objectives, define and prioritize U.S. national security interests, and include the metrics to be used to measure progress in achieving such objectives.
“That such strategy shall describe how each specific aspect of U.S. assistance, including defense articles and U.S. foreign assistance, is intended at the tactical, operational, and strategic level to help Ukraine end the conflict as a democratic, independent, and sovereign country capable of deterring and defending its territory against future aggression,” the bill reads.
House Republican leadership on April 17 unveiled the legislative text for three bills that are part of a complicated plan by Speaker Mike Johnson to get aid to U.S. allies while addressing concerns from conservatives.
The three bills would provide $26.4 billion to support Israel, $60.8 billion to bolster Ukraine and $8.1 billion to counter China in the Indo-Pacific, including billions for Taiwan.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would give lawmakers 72 hours to review the legislation, teeing up a vote as soon as Saturday.
Johnson said on Wednesday that the vote on aid bills, including one that provides assistance for Ukraine, would take place this Saturday, April 20.
(C)UNIAN 2024
Sounds not a bad bill after all. But will those Communists from the GOP support it?
We are not Communist.
LOL, Communist is the opposite of Conservative, right Mike? 😉
This is also a good Bill for the long term because it will the law to help Ukraine defeat russia and much easier to extend or reauthorize it. After it passes it will be US law to defeat russia. I guess the paranoid propagandists were wrong again. We will see who has the courage and credibility to apologize.
Should the bill go through, all defenders of Ukraine will feel great relief, but also anger that Europe did not collectively act to avoid the catastrophe by simply purchasing the items on the military support package as a commercial transaction.
There will be no apologies. The magaputler aid-blockers are deliberate, systematic, knowing accessories to mass murder.
Criminals in other words.
In the future, historians will be able to calculate the number of Ukrainian deaths, civilian and military, causes by the aid block.
It will be thousands. Professor Roman Sheremeta is collating the numbers.
I trust Ukraine’s numbers, they’ve always been accurate and careful. Ukrainians know very, very well how many of their friends and families that died in 2014 and 2015 and then again in 2022, 2023 and 2024. They will write the history and it will show who was in the White House for those very dark years. Facts are facts.
There is nothing in it to make it easier to extend or reauthorize it Sir RSM.
Of course there is, it will be a law, not just executive action. This will determine US policy and reauthorization will be easier because the policy is to defeat russia. Surely you understand that, being American. Just take off the political lens.
I simply read the article Sir RSM. There is nothing in the law that extends or would make it easier to reauthorize. I’m not looking at it through a ‘political lens’ Surely you understand I’m not going to forget all the death and suffering this delay caused by our elected officials not doing their job.
Paranoid? Ukraine hasn’t received aid for 4 months because of this MAGA gang.
And: the bill still hasn’t been brought up for a vote.
Johnson is responsible for the death of many Ukrainians.
^bert
You conveniently forget Biden doesn’t need legislation or money to send weapons or ammo to Ukraine, he just needs the willpower to do so
You are talking out of your ass again.
He absolutely needs money to be able to send aid in significant amounts.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whataboutism
You are still ignoring the fact that a president of the USA can send weapons and ammo without replenishing them. That costs nothing. Look what Biden did for Israel lately. There wasn’t any legislation for that.
Israel got 106 million dollars from the Presidential Drawdown, Ukraine got 300 million.
https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3704975/biden-administration-announces-urgent-security-assistance-for-ukraine/#:~:text=This%20Presidential%20Drawdown%20Authority%20(PDA,%2C%20and%20anti%2Dtank%20requirements.
Both were accounted for.
Of course Biden could (and did) send smaller packages of aid from the Presidential Drawdown, but it is far from enough.
^bert
Indeed, that bill looks surprisingly reasonable. But let’s not forget that Johnson’s major interest ain’t Ukraine’s defence, but “America First”, or rather “Trump First”. And accordingly, there’s several provisions designed to make Biden look weak, giving Republicans the chance to push the president around. Just look at the short timeframe of only 45 days to come up with a long term strategic plan. Under the typically glacial speed of the federal administration, that’s almost impossible to accomplish, setting up Biden’s team to fail. Which would then give Trump’s campaign a convenient way to smear Biden as incompetent. So, that’s obviously a rather partisan bill, just good enough that Dems can’t dare to oppose it. 🤔
As expected, the legislative terrorists are unleashed with a shower of amendments. Already 46 after a few hours! Anthology:
MTG
Requires all Members of Congress who vote in favor of this Act to conscript in the Ukrainian Military. (What is her IQ?)
Prohibits funding until Ukraine holds free and fair elections.
Prohibits funding until Ukraine stops persecuting Christians. (Russian propaganda)
Prohibits funding until Ukraine closes all bio-laboratories. (Russian propaganda)
Perry
Makes funding, draw down authority, and transfer authority contingent upon the Government of Ukraine holding free and fair elections.
Perry, Norman
Strikes entire bill text.
Ogles
Prohibits the use of funds to arm, train, or otherwise assist the neo-Nazi Azov Battallion, its successor, the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, or any other successor organizations. (Russian propaganda)
Johnson few days ago “structured and germane amendment process ” We see…
MTG (Israël Bill)
“Provides funding for the development of space laser technology on the southern border.” 🙂
Gosar
Prohibits the use of any funds for Ukraine until 90 days after the President has initiated peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
and the litanies on the borders…
Good
Prohibits funds for Ukraine until illegal border crossings fall under 1,000 per day.
Malliotakis
Prevents funds from this act from being used until H.R.3602 is enacted into law.
Burlison
Authorizes State and local law enforcement officers to enforce provisions of Federal immigration law that prohibit unlawful entry into the United States. Authorizes certain states to construct barriers on Federal lands or waters for the purpose of preventing unlawful entry into the United States.
Maybe that’s Johnson’s plan, to set up the Republican extremists as scapegoats for the failure of the bill. That would explain why he came up with this surprisingly reasonable proposal, after months of showing not much interest in Ukraine’s defence. Perhaps this bill ain’t supposed to pass, MTG and the other clowns will block it and Johnson can then wash his hands (and Trump’s tiny ones) clean of the debacle. Is this all just another Kabuki theatre show? 🤔
I’m not sure how these amendments work, but I’m sure they need 67% of the house voting for any amendment. These are just stalling tactics as the russian lovers throw their toys out of the pram.
“Requires all Members of Congress who vote in favor of this Act to conscript in the Ukrainian Military.”
How about an amendment that states anyone voting against this bill has to join the orc army?
“has to join the orc army”
Wouldn’t they be exempt, because they’re working for the kremlin?
Congress will pass the aid package on Saturday without any of the amendments of major concern being passed as they will not have the support needed. It seems that some of you have forgotten that Congress is not located in Russia and proposed amendments process is a very standard and normal part of getting any bill passed.
I found Gray’s comment “Just look at the short timeframe of only 45 days to come up with a long term strategic plan. Under the typically glacial speed of the federal administration, that’s almost impossible to accomplish…” fascinating.
The Biden administration has had over two years to come up with the strategic plan for Ukraine. Any competent administration would have completed this task a year and a half ago at least. But that would assume that indecisive Biden is capable of making timely decisions about Ukraine and sticking to it. It is interesting to note that the lack of and refusal or inability to provide a strategic plan has always been one of the Republicans complaints about ongoing aid to Ukraine and therefore it should be no suprise this effort is included in the Republican bill.
Never the less the bureacracy will make excuses for months and Congress will accept these delays because that is how our unaccountable, grossly bloated, and grossly overpaid “civil service” “works” in DC.